Valve operating mechanism



Aug.'22, 1 939. J DUNCAN 2,170,516

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 13, 1938 Patented Aug. 22, 1939 PATENT OFFICE VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM JamesF. Duncan, Waterbury, Conn.

Application August 13, 1938, Serial No. 224,682

5 Claims.-

This invention relates to improvements in tank lever construction and to the trip mechanism serving to operate the same.

In flush tanks employing a discharge valve, suitable trip mechanism is required for controlling the lever which lifts the discharge valve from its seat. This trip mechanism which. is operable from. the outside of the flush tank has had. various forms in the past. Such forms have been more or less complicated to assemble, requiring a plurality of locking elements such as threaded parts, bolts, cotter pins and the like which have not only added difiiculty to the assembly of the parts but have in addition added considerably to,

the cost of production of the individual parts, requiring additional machining, threading, boring and other similar operations in their production.

One of the objects of the present invention is the production of a novel arrangement, construc- "tion and combination of discharge valve operating lever and trip mechanism therefor, having a minimum number of moving parts, a minimum number of securing elements, and a minimum number of machined parts which will be capable of ready and quick assembly in aflush tank, effia eient in operation and, when assembled, incapable of accidentally coming apart during use.

Another object is the provision of structures which may be cheaply and quickly manufactured in quantity without requiring precision machining, and which may be assembled for use and held in operative position by a single securing means.

Still another object is the provision of structure inwhich the need for cotter pin, or equivalent securing devices to maintain the elements in operative relationship is eliminated.

And still another object is to produce a device of this. character which is effective in operation,

simple in construction for manufacture, replacea ment and repair, composed of few parts, strong in construction and having a long life. a

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter-appear, this inventionconsists in the construction, com.-

bination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and thensought to be defined in theappended claims, reference being had tothe -accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and

which show merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure a preferred embodiment of my invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the ,sc0.pef the claimswithout digressing. from "my inventive idea.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a view of a part of a. flush tank with a device constructed according to my invention installed therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section through a part of the tank wall of the device of Fig. 1 illustrating structural details of my device as mounted in said tank wall, the said device also being shown in partial vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2 viewed from the left; and

Fig. 4. is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 3, taken along line 4-4. of Fig. 3 and viewed in. the direction of the arrows. I

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character Hl designates a portion of a flush tank having a discharge pipe connection ll passing through the bottom wall I 3 of the tank. Positioned within the tank is a valve seat member l4 connected to the discharge pipe connection I I. An extension i5 is provided on valve seat member M to which an overflowpipe ortube I6 is connected. Cooperating with the valve seat member I6 is a ball valve l1 which is operated by. a valve rod' [8 guided in the support 19 mounted on the overflow pipe or tube It. This support I9 may be of the type disclosed in my United States Patent :No. 2,071,823 issued February 23, 1938, or may be any other suitable guide support serving to conveniently guide the valve rod [8 on the valve in order to maintain the valve in alinement with its seat. Valve rod 18 is connected to a link 20. Link 20 is connected to'an operating lever 2| by hooking or otherwise suitably fastening its upper end in one of the holes or orifices 22 provided at one end of the said operating lever 2|, or else said link may be pivotally connected to said end of said lever in any other convenient manner;

Lever 21' is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to the pivot post 23 of the body member 24 which is secured to the tank wall, .and its other arm 25 is provided with an upwardly extending lug or nose 26 for a purpose to be presently described.

The body member 24 on which the trip mechanism is supported has an upwardly extending arm 27 provided with an enlarged suitably shaped securing tab or plate 28.. Projecting laterally from the rear face of said tab or plate 28 is a polygonally shaped flange or shoulder 22 or otherwise suitably shaped shoulder which is adapted to be mounted in the correspondingly shaped opening 30 in the tank wall and which when so mounted prevents rotational displace- .angles to each other. provided with a downwardly extending projecment of the said body member. A bore 3| through the plate 28 and the flange 29 is provided for a purpose to be presently described. Extending laterally from the body member 24 at one side thereof is the arm 32 which is arranged substantially at right angles to the arm 21 and in the same plane. The pivot post 23 heretofore mentioned extends horizontally and forwardly from said arm 32 at right angles to the plane of arms 2'! and 32 and its free end 33 is somewhat reduced in diameter and provided with a smooth bearing surface to receive the bearing 34 of the lever 2!. The shoulder 35 on said pivot post defining the body of said post and its reduced bearing end is preferably machined so that the lever V 2! may freely rotate on. said pivot post without danger of catching even when the bearing presses firml against the said shoulder.

A third arm 31 extends laterally from said body member at the opposite side thereof as arm 32. This arm likewise is arranged in the plane of arms 21 and 32 and is also substantially at right angles to the arm 21. The locking nose or member 38 extends forwardly from said arm 3'5 at its free end and serves as a locking means for a purpose to be presently described.

The body member 24 is also provided with a trip lever supporting arm 49. This arm, in the embodiment shown, projects forwardly from the member 24 at substantially right angles to the plane of the arms 21, 32 and 37 and is provided with a horizontally extending bore 4I whose axis is substantially parallel to the plane of said last mentioned arms. 7

The said body member may be made of metal or other suitable material as plastic composition or the like. The respective arms of the said body member, in the embodiment shown, pivot post 23, tab or plate 28, flange 29, and nose 38 all are cast to form an integral single piece. If desired portions thereof may be separately formed and attached in proper relationship.

The trip member comprises a bell crank lever 43 having the laterally extending pivot pin 44 which is adapted to be rotatably borne in the bore 4i when inserted therein. The diameter of said pin is so admeasured as to permit free rotation of said pin in said bore. The arms 45 and 45 of said lever are arranged substantially at right Arm 45 at its free end is tion or nose 45 which is adapted to hook over the arm 25 of the lever 2I when the latter is mounted in operative position on pivot post 23. Thus since arm 45 is properly admeasured in length it prevents the pivotally mounted lever 2! from sliding off said pivot post 23 during operation. No cotter pins or other locking means are required to lock the lever 2I against accidental removal from its pivot post. Arm 45 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the pivot axis of the lever 43 and is provided on its rear face with a bearing surface 41 for a purpose to be presently described. An extensionflange or ear 48 in the plane of arms 45 and 45 is provided on the lever 43 which is adapted to move freely in the space 49 between the nose 38 and body member 24. This extension flange or ear 48 has its outer edge formed as a circular arc Whose radius is so admeasured that when said tab lies in said space 49 it is impossible to slide the pivot pin 44 out of the bore 4 I, because the nose 38 serves as a stop member. One piece construction may be used for said trip member and it may be of similar material as said body member. The circumferential extent of said flange o-r ear 48 is so admeasured that prior to mounting of said pivot pin in said bore the bell crank lever 45 may be rotated clockwise to a position permitting free insertion of said pin into said bore but when said crank lever is in operative assembled position with respect to said body 24 and the latter is mounted in said tank Ill as will be presently described, the flange or ear 48 prevents removal of said pivot pin 44 from said bore 4 I. A radially extending nose 48 on the ear or tab 48 is adapted in one position toengage under the arm 31 and to limit counterclockwise rotation of the bell crank lever when it is in assembled position on said arm 4|.

The operating mechanism for said trip member 43 includes, in the embodiment shown, a plunger supporting body member 50 having a polygonally or otherwise suitably shaped inwardly extending flange 5| adapted to fit and extend into the opening 39 in the tank I I from outside of the latter. Centrally located and extending from this flange 5! toward and through the bore 3| in shoulder 29 and plate 28 of arm 21 is a binding post 53 which is threaded as at 53 for a portion of its length near its free end. A clamping nut 54 adapted to be screwed on said threaded portion serves to clamp the plate 28 and the body member 50 to the tank I I from opposite sides thereof and to eifectively secure said trip supporting body member 24 and said plunger supporting body 50 into operative position on the tank. The length of binding post 53 is so admeasured that when the bearing surface 41 of arm 46 rests against its inner or free end, the arcuate flange or tab 48 of the trip lever 43, lies between the nose 38 and said body member 24 and prevents removal of pivot pin 44 from the bore 4| as hereinabove described.

A longitudinal bore 56 extending through body 59 and the binding post 53 serves to receive a slidable plunger 51 whose inner end 51' when pushed inwardly engages the bearing face 41 of arm 46 of the trip lever 43, serving to rotate the latter on its pivot pin 44. adapted to be pushed inwardly by a lever 59 pivotally supported from the body 50 as at 60, the outer end 51 of said lever engaging the inner face 59' of said lever 59.

Assuming the full line position of the embodiment shown as that of the normal closed position of the valve H (i. e., seated on its seat I4), unseating is effected as follows: Lever 59 is pushed inwardly, rotating clockwise about its pivot 60, causing inward sliding movement of the plunger 51 whose inner end 51 presses against the bearing face 41 of arm 46 of bell crank trip lever 43 causing counter-clockwise rotation of the latter. The arm 45 of said lever 43 thus rotates downwardly bearing against arm 25 of lever 2|, causing clockwise rotation of the latter with resultant rising action of its arm on the opposite side of its pivoting journal 34 and consequently imparting lifting action to the link 24 and valve rod I8, thereby raising the valve I! from its seat. Upon release of the pressure on lever 59-, and after the water W has escaped through pipe I I, gravity returns all the moving parts to their full line positions shown in the various figures herein.

The material of the supporting body member and its elements, the trip lever and its elements, and the other elements may be metal such as part brass, bronze, iron or the like or plastic compositions. Any material capable of being formed to requisite shape and possessing suflicient strength may be used.

In assembling the device, for use, first the,

The plunger 51 is moved from the arm 40.

bell crank lever 43 is mounted to the arm 40 by sliding pivot pin 44 into bore 3| and rotating the .latter'so that the ear 48 engages in the space of the said bell crank lever 43 in counter-clockwise' direction, normally rests against said underside of said arm and maintains the flange 48 in its locking position in space 49 so that the said lever 43 will not come off accidentally during assembly. Then the binding post 53 is inserted through the opening 30 of the tank from the outside and the supporting body arm 21 mounted thereon by sliding its bored plate 28 over said binding post 53 and screwing and tightening the nut 54 on said binding post. The relationship of the parts so assembled by virtue of the length of said binding post 53, the length and shape of the arm 46 of bell crank lever 43, and the dimensions of flange or ear 48 and the nose 38 on arm 3! are such that, while lever 43 is freely rotatable on its pivot pin 44 between the limits imposed by the engagement of arm 46 with post 53 when said lever 43 is rotated in clockwise direction, and the engagement of said nose 48 with the underside of arm 37 when said lever is rotated in counterclockwise direction, the pivot pin cannot be re- The flange or ear 48 which lies in the space 49 between said nose 38 and body 24 prevents such removal at this time.

The lever 2! is then applied or mounted on the pivot post 33, being momentarily rotated to a position to permit its hooked end 26 to clear the projection 45"of arm 45 and is then rotated to bear against the underside of arm 45 between said projection 45 and the pivot axis of the bell crank lever 43;

Thereafter the link 20 is securely attached by insertion into one of the holes 22 of lever 2| and the device is ready for use. Gravity serves to maintain engaging relationship between the end 25 of the lever 2| and the arm 45 and, through the bell crank lever arm 46, to force the plunger 51 to its outward position, and the operating lever 59 to its full line position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cross hook arrangement at the lever ends 25 and- 45 caused by the members 45' .and 26 prevents accidental displacement of the lever 2| on its pivot post 23.

Through this arrangement, bearing 34 of lever 2| is normally held against the machined shoulder 35 of said post 23, and the lever 45 is held snugly against the body 24.

With the apparatus herein described, it is seen, but a single nut 54 is requiredto mount the device into operative assembled position in a flush tank. The relationship of parts in such assembled position is such that the moving parts of the device are prevented from disengagement or accidental displacement, without requiring the use 1. A device of the character described for use in .a flush tank including in combination, an operating lever for a discharge valve, a multi-armed supporting body one of whose arms serves as a support for said operating lever, trip mechanism for said lever supported from another of the arms of said body, a slidable member carried in another of thearms of said body and engageable with said trip mechanism for moving the latter, a pivoted member outside of said tank, a support for said pivoted member extending through said tank and carried by said second named arm for engaging and moving said slid- .able member, a nose member on a third arm of said supporting body, a flange on said trip mechanism engageable between said nose member and said supporting body, a projection on said flange en ageable with said third arm, and a lever on said trip mechanism engageable with said support for said pivoted member whereby accidental arm bearing against the operating lever and provided With a nose located at the outer side of the operating lever and holding the latter in its pivotal connection with the supporting body, a. fixed nose on the supporting body, a flange carried by the trip lever and located at the inner side of the fixed nose which retains the trip lever in its pivotal connection with the supporting body when the levers are in their operative positions, the trip lever being movable in one direction out of operative position to disengage the flange from the fixed nose to permit removal of said levers, l

detachable means for actuating the trip lever arranged to limit the movement of the trip lever to prevent the flange from being disengaged from the fixed nose by said movement of the trip lever out of operative position, and means carried by the trip lever and arranged to engage the supporting body to limit the movement of the trip lever in the opposite direction. to prevent the flange from being disengaged from the fixed nose.

3. A device of the character described including, in combination, a supporting body having a pivot post provided with a terminal pivot portion, a valve operating lever mounted on the pivot portion of the post and freely movable laterally on and off said pivot portionunless restrained, an arm extending from said supporting body and having a bearing offset from and disposed at right angles to said pivot post, a trip lever having a pivot mounted in' the'said bearing, said trip lever being laterally movable to insert its pivot'in and remove the same from said bearing unless restrained, and said trip lever having an arm bearing upon the operating lever and provided with a nose engaging the outer side of the operating lever for holding the latter on the pivot portion of said post when said levers are in their operative positions, a fixed nose projecting from said supporting body, a flange carried by said trip lever and located at the inner side of said fixed nose when the trip lever 75 is in its operative position, whereby both levers will be retained in place during operation of the device, said trip lever being movable in one direction out of operative position to carry said flange beyond the fixed nose to permit removal of said levers from the supporting body, and means for actuating the trip lever.

4. A device of the character described including, in combination, a supporting body having a pivot post provided with a terminal pivot portion, a valve operating lever mounted on the pivot portion of the post and freely movable laterally on and off said pivot portion unless restrained, an arm extending from said supporting body and having a. bearing offset from and disposed at right angles to said pivot post, a trip lever having a pivot mounted in the said bearing, said trip lever being laterally movable to insert its .pivot in and remove the same from said bearing unless restrained, and said trip lever having an arm bearing upon the operating lever and provided with a nose engaging the outer side of the operating lever for holding the latter on the pivot portion of said post when said levers are in their operative positions, a fixed nose projecting from said supporting body, a flange carried by said trip lever and located at the inner side of said fixed nose when the trip lever is in, its operative position, whereby both levers will be retained in place during operation of the device, said trip lever being movable in one direction out of operative position to carry said flange beyond the fixed nose to permit removal of said levers from the supporting body, and means for actuating the trip lever, said trip lever actuating means being arranged to limit the movement of the trip lever in one direction and detachable to permit movement of the trip lever to disengage its flange from the fixed nose.

pivot mounted in the said bearing, said trip lever being laterally movable to insert its pivot in and remove the same from said bearing unless restrained, and said trip lever having an arm bear ing upon the operating lever and provided with a nose engaging the outer side of the operating a lever for holding the latter on the pivot portion of said post when said levers are in their operative positions, a fixed nose projecting from said supporting body, a flange carried by said trip lever and located at the inner side of said fixed nose B when the strip lever is in its operative position, whereby both levers will be retained in place during operation of the device, said trip lever being movable in one direction out of operative position to carry said flange beyond the fixed nose to permit removal of said levers from the supporting body, and means for actuating the trip lever, said trip lever actuating means being arranged.

to limit the movement of the trip lever in one direction and detachable to permit movement of the trip lever to disengage its flange from the fixed nose, and a lug carried by the trip lever and arranged to engage the supporting body to limit the movement of the trip lever in the opposite direction from the movement of the trip lever to disengage the same from the fixed nose.

JAMES F. DUNCAN. 

